Anita's Box

Howdy Lumberjocks! To quote Monty Python, “I ain’t dead yet.” This is a jewelry box intended for a dear friend, who during darker days, long ago made it her business to care more for me than I did for myself at the time. It also is a jewelry box project with a thousand false starts and problems that literally put my creative spirit on hold and sapped a lot of my desire to be active in the shop.

For starts, the joinery is Incra-fence based but the stock is too thin for this type of join, and as a consequence, there as a great deal of bowing on the front edge of the box. The first lid, with the back Wenge piece added for hinge screw depth (yes, one of those design mods) also had a nice sculpted lift tab mortised in the the front edge. But as time went along the hinges I tried first never seated correctly, and I ended up with insufficient width to cover the bow of the front panel. I finally put it aside (in a shamefully large pile of “lids for later”) and started anew. I used a stopped piano hinge from Veritas, and after monkeying around with them for a bit came to discover that the router template I made years ago did not place the hinge pin center close enough to the edge of the work to close properly. I checked that problem off, and now am signing off on this one.

Stock is Sapele and ribbon Sapele with bee’s-wing figure, Fishtail Oak and ash-chased double dovetails, Wenge accents, feet, and tray (tiny bit of walnut as the handle), Spanish Cedar for the grid in the bottom. Tray and box lined with Foamies and Ultra Suede per Emily Palm’s technique. Finish is Sealcoat Dewaxed Shellac and TreWax Mahogany wax. 10.625˝x 6˝x 4.5˝

Doug, I read this post in my email window, before actually opening my browser to see the photos. Had I not already known what you are capable of, your description would have led me to expect a lopsided, rickety offering, worthy of an arthritic chimpanzee working with a rock and a sharp seashell as its only tools.

Instead, as I correctly anticipated, I find this gorgeous piece. You may not post many projects, Brother, but you sure make up in quality what you lack in quantity! Obviously, this box was made with same degree of love and care as was shown to you by its intended recipient.

Carl, Debbie and Charlie, Thanks! Charlie, I know you can understand the depth of the gratitude behind the gift. I might have been a bit cowed by the need to get this one as close to perfect as possible, but in the end it’s progress and not perfection, after all.

Thanks Gene, you posted at the same time as my last one. Yep, self-adhesive 2mms.Plus I got sloppy with the benchtop while finishing and pushed a screw into the lid after bodying up with shellac. I just had to go satin with the rub-out and move along. I have one more box of shame to correct – one I posted here already and I will be ready to jump right back on this horse with fresh work.